update: thanks so much to everyone who donated the money will really help get a man on one of these trips and do a lot of good. The walk went so well wasnt as tiring as i thought, I believe I will do another next year probably spring time either in the moors wilderness or maybe Manchester to liverpool if i can figure out a route.

Hi I'm Luke Blackburn an evangelist based in Manchester UK. November 19th is "international men's day" and I want to raise money and awareness over men's suicide in the UK, here are some shocking statistics:

The biggest killer of men under 50 is suicide, and nearly 3/4 of all suicides are men.

The male suicide rate was 17.1 per 100,000, compared to a female suicide rate of 5.6 per 100,000

People living in the most deprived areas of England have a higher risk of suicide. The suicide rate in the most deprived 10% of areas in 2017-2019 was 14.1 per 100,000, which is almost double the rate of 7.4 in the least deprived areas.

Quite shocking to read I know, but there is hope for men to find identity and purpose and break out from those mind prisons. That's why I'm raising money for 4menuk aka "xtreme character challenge". I discovered this organisation in 2022 when I went on one of these camping ventures in the wilderness with some fellas from my church. It was a very raw experience but I left with a profound lesson on what it is to be a man and the many agendas and trials we face as guys, as gentlemen, as boys in'it.

So I'll be taking on a bit of a challenge of my own on November the 19th by walking the Bridgewater canal from Manchester City centre acrooossss the way to Warrington. This is around 30km or just under 20 miles!

Along the way I will also be releasing prayers for men in the UK to find their identity as adopted sons in Christ, just like I did.

Anything you can give is greatly appreciated and I'm looking forward to seeing what is raised and this may inspire me to do more of these in the future.

Peace.

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